It's always good to hear from ostomists who are living life to the full and our story is a shining example of how a positive mental attitude can make all the difference. Simon De La Mare is a great role model and we'd love to hear from any of our other readers who have a success story they'd like to share.
As well as Simon's story, we have our usual round up of news from across the country and more letters and poems from our readers – keep them coming in – we love reading them! Have a great summer from all at Salts.
Well done to everyone who took part in the Walk For Skin events across the country during May and June. Organisers, the British Skin Foundation (BSF) were delighted with the success of the event. Commenting on the Birmingham event that was sponsored by Salts, Indy Rihal, spokeswoman for the BSF, said: “We were delighted with the turn-out at Sutton Park and it was great to see how many people from the West Midlands are passionate about fighting against skin disease. We were lucky with the weather and the walkers seemed to really enjoy the stunning views of Sutton Park.” More than 100 people turned up on the day to enjoy the activities taking place with lots of families with young children who were kept entertained by the balloonist on stilts, jugglers and a jazz band! Salts' Marketing Manager, Caroline Cowin said: “We've been working with the British Skin Foundation for many years, carrying out research into healthy stoma skin. They do a great job which has a huge impact on the day to day lives of many people. We are proud to be involved in this event, which last year raised a fantastic £150,000, and to show our ongoing commitment to the work they do on our behalf.”
Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire
Gill Waller said: “It’s the second time I’ve run it and it was really nice that Anne (Burgess) and Sheridan (Turner) joined me this year – both in training and on the day itself.
Salts has worked with Professor Williams for many years and the entire team is sad to hear that he is leaving. Speaking on behalf of the company, Managing Director, Peter Salt, said: “We've always held Norman in great esteem for his pioneering and innovative surgical development in ostomy care and for his advocacy of patients and clinical nurse specialists, particularly through his work with the IA.
The 2008 Colostomy Association National Conference will be held at Reading University on Thursday 11th September. Details are still being finalised but it is hoped that a fashion show from a high street retailer will be included along with a number of presentations from both the patient and medical perspective. Salts will be present alongside many other manufacturers and distributors. For further information, please look on the Colostomy Association website 
Lorraine, a sprightly 51 year old, added that having a stoma hasn't stopped her doing any of the things she used to: “Jeff and I run a business, gardening for the over-60s, and I manage a 1-acre allotment so I do a lot of strenuous work and I'm bending down a lot. With Harmony Duo I've noticed I'm not getting the heat rash around the stoma that I used to nor am I suffering from any form of skin irritation which I'd put up with for years and years before, regardless of the type of pouch I was using. I'd also been a bit conscious of two-piece pouches showing through my clothes but this one lies very flat on the skin and it's incredibly comfortable.
The majority of Kate's work involves home visits with patients. Some are referred by GPs, District Nurses and hospitals but most of them are self referrals, with people responding to adverts placed in the local media or following visits to the open days that Kate attends. “Patients often contact me regarding issues such as skin or leakage problems, or they may just want a general review and I can help them by talking to them about the products that are available to them, helping them with fitting stoma support wear, and by providing general travel and lifestyle advice. All this is carried out in the comfort of their own homes which means they are more relaxed and more likely to open up to me.”
“Our plans started a while ago when we were discussing what to do for Josie’s 50th birthday, which was earlier this year,” said Tracey.
The popular range of Cohesive accessories has been extended to include a stoma paste that is designed to offer protection and to contain output from difficult stoma sites.
Around 150 people attended Newton Abbott racecourse in what was another successful patient open day, in April. Torbay hospital nurses and Medilink invited patients to attend the event, supported by Salts. The Ileostomy Association, Colostomy Association and Urostomy Association, as well as the nurses from the hospital, all had stands providing information on a range of topics regarding stomas and their care. In addition, a dietician offered advice and Salts demonstrated its new product ranges, including Harmony Duo, the new two-piece colostomy pouch which received great accolade from both patients and nurses alike. 
Salts Healthcare understands that regularly changing a pouch can cause skin irritation – it's one of the most common problems experienced by ostomists. Using a two-piece pouch, which enables the user to leave the wafer in place and just change the bag itself, has always been an option, but it's one that until now many users have been reluctant to try.
If feedback so far is anything to go by, an innovative new product just launched by Salts looks likely to change attitudes towards the two-piece pouch because Harmony Duo offers all the benefits of Salts' one-piece pouches with the advantage of being gentler on the skin around the stoma.
It is soft and flexible – its low-profile flanges are designed to move with you and is available in a choice of sizes and either standard or with a hydrocolloid surround. 
There have been a number of staff changes at Medilink Edinburgh so the new team members, who have now settled into their new roles, are Branch Manager, Johanna Macphee, and Customer Care Co-ordinators, Louise Williamson and Liam MacKenzie. 
NovaPED Golf is a range of specialist insoles that have been designed by Schein to improve the body’s movement during tee-off and backswing. Endorsed by the German Professional Golfers’ Association, the arch supports result in improved co-ordination and help the player to use less energy without causing detriment to performance as well as preventing damage to joints. 
Featuring special stiffening and pressure distribution zones, the insoles offer better stability and shock absorption which causes less strain on the feet, knee axis, the hip and the dorsal muscles of the back.
The Procomfort and Prodynamic arch supports also offer a pressure relief point on the big toe. Procomfort includes air ventilation at the forefoot, while Prodynamic includes magnetic field points that stimulate the metabolism and circulation to prevent premature fatigue.
A Salts golf day held last year raised a fantastic £2,000 for the Nottingham City Hospital Prostate Cancer Appeal which enables the hospital to invest in specialised equipment for research into developing new treatments and ways of administering the best possible care.
Originally from East Kilbride, Susan Berry moved to Inverness five years ago. Susan, who has a two year old son, Alasdair, is now working alongside Tracey MacLaren (Branch Manager) and Tricia Ross, as a Customer Care Co-ordinator at Medilink’s Inverness branch on Thursdays and Fridays. Previously, Susan worked at Scottish Water in Inverness, where she was meeting and greeting customers and clients. 
One member who plays an active part in the group is Simon De La Mare who had an ileostomy formed four-and-a-half years ago after suffering for ten years with ulcerative colitis. Describing his illness, Simon said: “I tried lots of different drugs, endured many trips to the hospital and eventually the illness started to take over my life. I finally decided to have my bowel removed in its entirety.
His ileostomy certainly hasn't prevented Simon from leading a full and active life. “I'm actually doing more now than I ever could when I was suffering with ulcerative colitis,” he said. “I've carried on running my own business as a roofing contractor, which some members find incredible, and I now go out kayaking and fishing as well – something I could never do before as I always had to be close to a toilet. I wish I'd had the operation done sooner. The only thing stopping me was that I didn't have children at the time and I was worried I'd be unable to have them following the operation, so I put it off until I'd had my two wonderful kids, Summer and James. 
